The idea
Use die Bibliothek for the nominative singular, die Bibliothek for the accusative, der Bibliothek for the dative, and der Bibliothek for the genitive. In the dative plural use den Bibliotheken.
| Kasus | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | die Bibliothek | die Bibliotheken |
| Akkusativ | die Bibliothek | die Bibliotheken |
| Dativ | der Bibliothek | den Bibliotheken |
| Genitiv | der Bibliothek | der Bibliotheken |
Meaning and useful combinations
Bibliothek is a library, where materials are kept or borrowed; Buchhandlung is a bookshop.
Useful combinations: in der Bibliothek; die Stadtbibliothek; einen Bibliotheksausweis beantragen. Practise each as a complete phrase; the article belongs to the noun even when an adjective comes between them.
Article check: nominative singular
das Bibliothekdie BibliothekThis check asks for the nominative singular: die Bibliothek. In the meaning taught here, Bibliothek is feminine. The nominative plural is die Bibliotheken. Learn both forms together; an English translation does not determine German gender.
Examples
- Die Bibliothek bietet einen ruhigen Arbeitsraum.The library offers a quiet study room.
- Ich besuche die Bibliothek jeden Donnerstag.I visit the library every Thursday.
- In der Bibliothek steht ein neuer Kopierer.There is a new photocopier in the library.
- Der Katalog der Bibliothek ist online zugänglich.The library catalog is accessible online.
- Die Bibliotheken der Nachbarorte teilen ein Ausleihsystem.The libraries in the neighboring towns share a lending system.
- In den Bibliotheken finden regelmäßig Lesungen statt.Readings take place regularly in the libraries.
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Watch out
Do not transfer the gender of a translated word into German. The basic learning pair is die Bibliothek — die Bibliotheken. Bibliothek is a library, where materials are kept or borrowed; Buchhandlung is a bookshop.
Try it yourself
___ Bibliothek (der / die / das)
Show answer or example answer
die
die: Bibliothek is feminine.
Plural: die Bibliothek → die ___
Show answer or example answer
Bibliotheken
Bibliotheken: the plural has the article die in the nominative and accusative.
Dativ Singular: mit ___ Bibliothek (dem / der)
Show answer or example answer
der
der: mit takes the dative, giving mit der Bibliothek.
Practice round
Answer three questions, then rebuild three German sentences. We keep your score.
___ Bibliothek (der / die / das)
Plural: die Bibliothek → die ___
Dativ Singular: mit ___ Bibliothek (dem / der)
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Read the six situations, identify Bibliothek and its forms, then complete the article, plural and dative checks without looking at the table.